Mocknot，lestyourbondsbemadestrong，’’saidtheHermit，steppingforward。Theheavenlyhostwritenothingbuttruthintheirbrilliantrecords-itisman’seyeswhicharetooweaktoreadtheircharactersaright。KnowthatwhenSaladinandKennethofScotlandsleptinmygrotto，Ireadinthestars，thatthererestedundermyroofaprince，thenaturalfoeofRichard，withwhomthefateofEdithPlantagenetwastobeunited。
　　CouldIdoubtthatthismustbetheSoldan，whoserankwaswellknowntome，asheoftenvisitedmycelltoconverseontherevolutionsoftheheavenlybodies？-AgainthelightsofthefirmamentproclaimedthatthisPrince，thehusbandofEdithPlantagenet，shouldbeaChristian；andI-weakandwildinterpreter！-arguedthencetheconversionofthenobleSaladin，whosegoodqualitiesseemedoftentoinclinehimtowardsthebetterfaith。Thesenseofmyweaknesshathhumbledmetothedust，butinthedustIhavefoundcomfort！Ihavenotreadarightthefateofothers-whocanassuremebutthatI
　　mayhavemiscalculatedmineown？Godwillnothaveusbreakintohiscouncil-houseorspyouthishiddenmysteries。Wemustwaithistimewithwatchingandprayer-withfearandwithhope。Icamehitherthesternseer-theproudprophet-skilled，asIthought，toinstructprinces，andgiftedevenwithsupernaturalpowers，butburdenedwithaweightwhichIdeemednoshouldersbutminecouldhaveborne。Butmybandshavebeenbroken！Igohencehumbleinmineignorance，penitent-andnothopeless。’’
　　Withthesewordshewithdrewfromtheassembly；anditisrecorded，that，fromthatperiod，hisfrenzyfitsseldomoccurred，andhispenanceswereofamildercharacter，andaccompaniedwithbetterhopesofthefuture。Somuchisthereofself-opinion，evenininsanity，thattheconvictionofhishavingentertainedandexpressedanunfoundedpredictionwithsomuchvehemence，seemedtooperatelikelossofbloodonthehumanframe，tomodifyandlowerthefeverofthebrain。
　　Itisneedlesstofollowintofartherparticularstheconferencesattheroyaltent，ortoinquirewhetherDavid，EarlofHuntingdon，wasasmuteinthepresenceofEdithPlantagenet，aswhenhewasboundtoactunderthecharacterofanobscure。
　　andnamelessadventurer。Itmaybewellbelievedthathethereexpressed，withsuitableearnestness，thepassiontowhichhehadsooftenbeforefounditdifficulttogivewords。
　　Thehourofnoonnowapproached，andSaladinwaitedtoreceivethePrincesofChristendominatent，which，butforitslargesize，differedlittlefromthatoftheordinaryshelterofthecommonCurdman，orArab；yet，beneathitsampleandsablecovering，waspreparedabanquetafterthemostgorgeousfashionoftheEast，extendeduponcarpetsofthericheststuffs，withcushionslaidfortheguests。Butwecannotstoptodescribetheclothofgoldandsilver-thesuperbembroideryinArabesque-theshawlsofCashmere-andthemuslinsofIndia，whichwerehereunfoldedinalltheirsplendour；farlesstotellthedifferentsweetmeats，ragoutsedgedwithricecolouredinvariousmanners，withalltheothernicetiesofEasterncookery。
　　Lambsroastedwhole，andgameandpoultrydressedinpilaus，werepiledinvesselsofgold，andsilver，andporcelain，andintermixedwithlargemazersofsherbetcooledinsnowandicefromthecavernsofMountLebanon。Amagnificentpileofcushionsattheheadofthebanquet，seemedpreparedforthemasterofthefeast，andsuchdignitariesashemightcalltosharethatplaceofdistinction，whilefromtheroofofthetentinallquarters，butoverthisscatofeminenceinparticular，wavedmanyabannerandpennon，thetrophiesofbattleswon，andkingdomsoverthrown。Butamongstandabovethemall，alonglancedisplayedashroud，thebannerofDeath，withthisimpressiveinscription-=Saladin，KingofKings-Saladin，VictorofVictors-Saladinmustdie。=’’Amidthesepreparations，thelaveswhohadarrangedtherefreshmentsstoodwithdroopedheadsandfoldedarms，muteandmotionlessasmonumentalstatuary，orasautomata，whichwaitedthetouchoftheartisttoputtheminmotion。
　　Expectingtheapproachofhisprincelyguests，theSoldan，imbued，asmostwere，withthesuperstitionsofhistime，pausedoverahoroscopeandcorrespondingscroll，whichhadbeensenttohimbytheHermitofEngaddiwhenhedepartedfromthecamp。
　　Strangeandmysteriousscience，’’hemutteredtohimself，which，pretendingtodrawthecurtainoffuturity，misleadsthosewhomitseemstoguide，anddarkensthescenewhichitpretendstoilluminate！WhowouldnothavesaidthatIwasthatenemymostdangeroustoRichard，whoseenmitywastobeendedbymarriagewithhiskinswoman？YetitnowappearsthataunionbetwixtthisgallantEarlandtheladywillbringaboutfriendshipbetwixtRichardandScotland，anenemymoredangerousthanI，asawildcatinachamberismoretobedreadedthanalioninadistantdesert-Butthen，’’hecontinuedtomuttertohimself，thecombinationintimatesthatthishusbandwastobeChristian-Christian？’’herepeated，afterapause，-ThatgavetheinsanefanaticstargazerhopesthatImightrenouncemyfaith！butme，thefaithfulfollowerofourProphet-meitshouldhaveundeceived。Liethere，mysteriousscroll，’’headded，thrustingitunderthepileofcushions；strangearethybodementsandfatal，since，evenwhentrueinthemselves，theyworkuponthosewhoattempttodeciphertheirmeaningalltheeffectsoffalsehood-Hownow，whatmeansthisintrusion？’’
　　HespoketothedwarfNectabanus，whorushedintothetentfearfullyagitated，witheachstrangeanddisproportionedfeaturewrenchedbyhorrorintostillmoreextravagantugliness，-hismouthopen，hiseyesstaring，hishands，withtheirshrivelledanddeformedfingers，widelyexpanded。
　　Whatnow？’’saidtheSoldan，sternly。
　　_Accipehoc！_’’groanedoutthedwarf。
　　Ha！say’stthou？’’answeredSaladin。
　　_Accipehoc！_’’repliedthepanic-struckcreature，unconscious，perhaps，thatherepeatedthesamewordsasbefore。
　　Hence！Iaminnoveinforfoolery，’’saidtheEmperor。
　　NoramIfartherfool，’’saidthedwarf，thantomakemyfollyhelpoutmywitstoearnmybread，poorhelplesswretch！-
　　Hear，hearme，greatSoldan！’’
　　Nay，ifthouhastactualwrongtocomplainof，’’saidSaladin，foolorwise，thouartentitledtotheearofaKing-Retirehitherwithme；’’andheledhimintotheinnertent。
　　Whatevertheirconferencerelatedto，itwassoonbrokenoffvariousChristianprinces，whomSaladinwelcomedtohistentwitharoyalcourtesywellbecomingtheirrankandhisown；
　　butchieflyhesalutedtheyoungEarlofHuntingdon，andgenerouslycongratulatedhimuponprospects，whichseemedtohaveinterferedwithandovercloudedthosewhichhehadhimselfentertained。
　　Butthinknot，’’saidtheSoldan，thounobleyouth，thatthePrinceofScotlandismorewelcometoSaladin，thanwasKennethtothesolitaryIlderimwhentheymetinthedesert，orthedistressedEthioptotheHakimAdonbec。Abraveandgenerousdispositionlikethinehathavalueindependentofconditionandbirth，asthecooldraughtwhichIhereprofferthee，isasdeliciousfromanearthenvesselasfromagobletofgold。’’
　　TheEarlofHuntingdonmadeasuitablereply，gratefullyacknowledgingthevariousimportantserviceshehadreceivedfromthegenerousSoldan；butwhenhehadpledgedSaladininthebowlofsherbet，whichtheSoldanhadprofferedtohim，hecouldnothelpremarkingwithasmile，Thebravecavalier，Ilderim，knewnotoftheformationofice，butthemunificentSoldancoolshissherbetwithsnow。’’
　　WouldstthouhaveanAraboraCurdmanaswiseasaHakim？’’saidtheSoldan。Hewhodoesonadisguisemustmakethesentimentsofhisheartandthelearningofhisheadaccordwiththedresswhichheassumes。Idesiredtoseehowabraveandsingle-heartedcavalierofFrangistanwouldconducthimselfindebatewithsuchachiefasIthenseemed；andI
　　questionedthetruthofawell-knownfact，toknowbywhatargumentsthouwouldstsupportthyassertion。’’
　　Whiletheywerespeaking，theArchdukeofAustria，whostoodalittleapart，wasstruckwiththementionoficedsherbet，andtookwithpleasureandsomebluntnessthedeepgoblet，astheEarlofHuntingdonwasabouttoreplaceit。
　　Mostdelicious！’’heexclaimed，afteradeepdraught，whichtheheatoftheweather，andthefeverishnessfollowingthedebauchoftheprecedingday，hadrendereddoublyacceptable。
　　HesighedashehandedthecuptotheGrandMasteroftheTemplars。Saladinmadeasigntothedwarf，whoadvancedandpronounced，withaharshvoice，thewords，_Accipehoc！_
　　TheTemplarstarted，likeasteedwhoseesalionunderabush，besidethepathway；yetinstantlyrecovered，andtohide，perhaps，hisconfusion，raisedthegoblettohislips-butthoselipsnevertouchedthatgoblet’srim。ThesabreofSaladinleftitssheathaslightningleavesthecloud。Itwaswavedintheair，-andtheheadoftheGrandMasterrolledtotheextremityofthetent，whilethetrunkremainedforasecondstanding，withthegobletstillclenchedinitsgrasp，thenfell，theliquorminglingwiththebloodthatspurtedfromtheveins。
　　NoteB。DeathoftheGrandMaster。
　　Therewasageneralexclamationoftreason，andAustria，nearesttowhomSaladinstoodwiththebloodysabreinhishand，startedbackasifapprehensivethathisturnwastocomenext。
　　Richardandotherslaidhandontheirswords。
　　Fearnothing，nobleAustria，’’saidSaladin，ascomposedlyasifnothinghadhappened，noryou，royalEngland，bewrothatwhatyouhaveseen。Notforhismanifoldtreasons；-notfortheattemptwhich，asmaybevouchedbyhisownsquire，heinstigatedagainstKingRichard’slife；-notthathepursuedthePrinceofScotlandandmyselfinthedesert，reducingustosaveourlivesbythespeedofourhorses；-notthathehadstirreduptheMaronitestoattackusuponthisveryoccasion，hadI
　　notbroughtupunexpectedlysomanyArabsasrenderedtheschemeabortive；-notforanyorallofthesecrimesdoeshenowliethere，althougheachweredeservingsuchadoom；-butbecause，scarcehalf-an-hourerehepollutedourpresence，asthesimoomempoisonstheatmosphere，heponiardedhiscomradeandaccomplice，ConradeofMontserrat，lestheshouldconfesstheinfamousplotsinwhichtheyhadbothbeenengaged。’’
　　How！Conrademurdered？-AndbytheGrandMaster，hissponsorandmostintimatefriend！’’exclaimedRichard。NobleSoldan，Iwouldnotdoubtthee-yetthismustbeproved-
　　otherwise’’-
　　Therestandstheevidence，’’saidSaladin，pointingtotheterrifieddwarf。Allah，whosendsthefire-flytoilluminatethenight-season，candiscoversecretcrimesbythemostcontemptiblemeans。’’
　　TheSoldanproceededtotellthedwarf’sstory，whichamountedtothis-Inhisfoolishcuriosity，orashepartlyconfessed，withsomethoughtsofpilfering，NectabanushadstrayedintothetentofConrade，whichhadbeendesertedbyhisattendants，someofwhomhadlefttheencampmenttocarrythenewsofhisdefeattohisbrother，andotherswereavailingthemselvesofthemeanswhichSaladinhadsuppliedforrevelling。ThewoundedmansleptundertheinfluenceofSaladin’swonderfultalisman，sothatthedwarfhadopportunitytopryaboutatpleasure，untilhewasfrightenedintoconcealmentbythesoundofaheavystep。
　　Heskulkedbehindacurtain，yetcouldseethemotions，andhearthewordsoftheGrandMaster，whoentered，andcarefullysecuredthecoveringofthepavilionbehindhim。Hisvictimstartedfromsleep，anditwouldappearthatheinstantlysuspectedthepurposeofhisoldassociate，foritwasinatoneofalarmthathedemandedwhereforehedisturbedhim。
　　Icometoconfessandabsolvethee，’’answeredtheGrandMaster。
　　Oftheirfartherspeechtheterrifieddwarfrememberedlittle，savethatConradeimploredtheGrandMasternottobreakawoundedreed，andthattheTemplarstruckhimtotheheartwithaTurkishdagger，withthewords_Accipehoc_-wordswhichlongafterwardshauntedtheterrifiedimaginationoftheconcealedwitness。
　　Iverifiedthetale，’’saidSaladin，bycausingthebodytobeexamined；andImadethisunhappybeing，whomAllahhathmadethediscovererofthecrime，repeatinyourownpresencethewordswhichthemurdererspoke，andyouyourselvessawtheeffectwhichtheyproduceduponhisconscience！’’
　　TheSoldanpaused，andtheKingofEnglandbrokesilence:-
　　Ifthisbetrue，asIdoubtnot，wehavewitnessedagreatactofjustice，thoughitboreadifferentaspect。Butwhereforeinthispresence？whereforewiththineownhand？’’